Wike, Kingibe clash over Abuja property sealing for ground rent default

A heated exchange erupted on Thursday between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the FCT’s Senator, Ireti Kingibe, over the ongoing sealing of properties in Abuja due to unpaid ground rent.

Senator Kingibe, representing the FCT in the Senate, took issue with the clampdown, condemning it as both unconstitutional and excessive. 

In a statement dated May 26, 2025, and shared via her official X handle, she argued that the widespread closure of properties—including major institutions like the Peoples Democratic Party Secretariat and Access Bank—undermines the rights of residents and business owners.

“The mass closure of buildings violates the rights of residents and business owners,” Kingibe stated, warning that the enforcement measures “erode public trust and worsen the economic hardship facing residents of the FCT.”

In response, the Minister’s office, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, on Thursday, shot back at Kingibe’s claims. Olayinka described Kingibe’s position as “ridiculous ignorance” of the Land Use Act and accused her of personal animosity against Wike.

“It is embarrassingly ignorant for a serving senator to be unaware of the provisions of Section 28 of the Land Use Act,” Olayinka said. “Ground rent is not optional. It’s a legal obligation tied to land ownership, and failure to pay it over 10, 20, even 43 years cannot be brushed aside.”

He further alleged that Kingibe’s criticism was politically motivated, calling on her to “purge herself of hatred for Wike,” instead of shielding defaulters under the guise of defending legality.

Kingibe, however, stood her ground, stressing that while enforcement of ground rent is important, sealing properties without due process is a violation of the law. She cited the Land Use Act and the Urban and Regional Planning Act, which she said outline fines or surcharges as appropriate penalties—not the “arbitrary property takeovers” carried out by the FCT Administration.

“No Nigerian’s property can be lawfully seized or sealed solely due to ground rent default,” she said, describing the clampdown as “indiscriminate” and “insensitive” to the prevailing economic difficulties.

Senator Kingibe also pledged to pursue legislative reforms to ensure that enforcement of ground rent payments follows due process and does not trample on residents’ rights.

Olayinka, undeterred, argued that Kingibe’s interpretation of the law was “selective,” asserting that non-payment of ground rent constitutes a breach of the Certificate of Occupancy, which can lead to revocation.

“Would Kingibe, as FCT Minister, fold her arms while landowners refuse to pay what is legally due for over four decades?” he asked.

The clash comes even as President Bola Tinubu recently granted a 14-day grace period to defaulters to pay their arrears. While that intervention has paused further sealing of properties for now, the ongoing spat between Kingibe and Wike’s team underscores deep political and legal tensions over how to address ground rent debts in the FCT.

Kingibe, meanwhile, urged residents to stay calm and law-abiding, assuring them, “We are committed to ensuring that dialogue, justice, and due process prevail.”